National Republican., 1887-02-08
The Blair Bill,

While the Blair education bill is being
considered by the House committee on rules
Eembers Of that committee who have not
definitely made up their minds may profit
by perusal Of the following statement
made before the committee on education
and labor Of the Senate and House In
March, 1882, Rev. DR.. A. d. Mayo, Of Massa-
chusetts, who is as well Informed on edu-
cation and the needs Of the south as any
man living:
We must remember, gentlemen, that nine
men out of ten in the south never saw what
we call good public elementary school. The
thing that is necessary is to put for one year,
for two years, for three years, in every district
through that country, school that will be q
fair representative of public school, that the
people can see it; and once having seen 1t aud
enjoyed Its benefits they never will give 1t up
again. Now, II Is utterly impossible for the
average school authority to get the money to
put such a school on the ground. Give to that
man another $500, another $1,000, and at once,
without wearing himselfout with importantly.
he can put on the ground the school that the
people need; school that instead of being
school that satisfied nobody, Is a school that
satisfies everybody, and once having seen that
school for one year, iortwoyears, for five years,
for ten years, that people will be stimulated to
great exertions and will never give It up.
Let me illustrate this by one spectacle which
! saw which will put you in full possession of
this point. The little city OF Goldsborousb, NC,
has about 1000 people. Up to year ago that
city had no school in 1t which was satisfactory
to any portion OF the white inhabitants of the
city; IL had poor public colored school under
the county authorities.
Six months ago few Of the enterprisng
citizens of that city were able to put into
or Grafton a thorough white graded school. By
the aid of the Peabody fund they were able to
secure nn expert for teacher, so that school
took all the children In the town. Four hum
dred children were put into good school
house, graded and organized; over them was
put an expert teacher, and at once It was
shown to everybody in that town what could
be dore with good graded school. i visited
that town one day. and 1t was like going to a
town that was under the effect of religious
,ev!val everybody was in state of delightful
excitement; everybody was asking me to see
the school; people were coming from all parts
of the country to see IT, and just because the
sgent Of the Peabody fund could come in with
his thousand dollars and give TO that school
the expert which made IL what 1t was. The
lody was satisfied, and the whole region
around about was being instructed and brought
up TO that work.
Such schools IN county towns mean good
schools in the country districts. What we ask
Of you, gentlemen, is to give to these school
authorities everywhere through the south
money enough 10 supplement what they are
now doing; SO instead of an insufficient school.
as they have now, they can put on the ground
at once good school, which will satisfy the
PEOPLE, which will coHilrm them In their de.
I sire to sustain education, and which will give
them fair understanding of the benefits of
| the institution.
Now, gentlemen, just one word more and
am done. fully concur from my observation
| in all that has been said on several points
| First, the south needs this money at once. 1t
| Is an urgent case. Are you aware, gentlemen,
| that the average school life, reckoned by
months, Of the average boy east of the Allegha-
MES is for years. the average school life of the
western boy, reckoned by months, IL three
years; the average school life of the white aud
colored school boy in the south is less than two
years; the average school life of the average
southern boy is not one year?
This Is the turnpike gate through which these
children are streaming. and while you are de-
batting and consulting on the feasibility of diff
fercnl methods, generation after generation, you
may say, are streaming through.
What is to be done should be done at oncs
TO meet the great demand of the present.